Stapling machine



Feb. 24, 1942. w. G. PANKONIN STAPLING MACHINE Original Filed July 1,1940 wiiimi INVENTOR. W/X. Lmm G PA/v/raA/m/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 24, 1942 4 Original application July 1, 1940, Serial No.343,380. Divided and this application April 5,

I I t 1941, Serial No. 387,004

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ments in stapling machines. v

This application is a, division of the copending application of WilliamG; Pankonin, applicant herein, Serial No. 343,380, filed July 1, 1940,for Stapling machines.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro vide a stapling machinehaving a magazine and feeder mechanism for preformed staples wherein thefeeder mechanism is retained in associated improverelationship with themagazine during the load-.

ing thereof, thereby preventing misplacement.

In order to retain the feeder mechanism. in associated relationship withthe magazine during loading, the staple follower is made slidable on anendless follower rod. The follower rod has an upper leg slidably held ina retaining bracket positioned within the magazine. Slidably positionedon the follower rod between they retaining bracket and the forward endof the'follower are a series of pointed blocks which act to urge thefollower rearwardly along the lower leg of the follower'rod as the rodis moved rearwardly. Thus the follower is removed from themagazine whilethe inner end of the rod still remains held by the retaining bracket.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of theinvention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of a specificembodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich the figure is a sectional view in side elevation showing astapling machine embodying the present invention, the section linemeandering from the centerplane to a plane just inside the side wall ofthe magazine arm and back to the center plane again for sake of clarity.

Referring now to the drawing, the stapling machine generally comprisesan operating or presser arm I overlying and interrelated with a magazinearm 2 and a base arm 3, which latter is adapted to support the staplingmachine. arms are all pivoted about the same axis.

The rigid follower mechanism comprises an endless follower rod 43 formedwith upper and lower legs joined by curved ends. The follower rod hasslidably positioned on its upper leg a retaining bracket 44. The bracket44 is of inverted Ushape in cross section and has its op- These positesides pierced to slidably receive the rod 55 43. The lower edges of theretaining bracket 44 are bent inwardly and are resiliently held inposition. The retaining bracket is locked in place in the locks 39 and40 by being forced down- Wardly over the locks until the loweredges-snap in place around the necked-out part thereof. A staplefollower or pusher of conventional design, and having a lower portionadapted to ride on the core 23, is slidably positioned on the lower legof the endless follower rod 43 by means of a small bracket havingopposite sides pierced to slidably fit on the rod. Between the bracket44 and the rear end (or the right side as viewed in the drawing) of thefollower 45 is positioned a coiled compression spring 46 encircling therod 43 and extending around its rearwardly curved end so as to extendalong both upper and lower legs thereof. The spring 46 is splitat itsupper run a short distance from the retaining bracket 44, and is spacedat this split by a sleeve 4'! which is slidably mounted on the rod 43,and isadapted to be engaged by a spring clip positioned on the undersurface of the operating arm I. A seriesof force-transmission blocks 48are slidably positioned on the follower rod 43, and

extend between the forward end of the retaining block 44 and the forwardend of the follower 45. The force-transmission blocks 43are formed bybending fiat stock so that the blocks have a back and opposite sidesextending parallel for a portion of their length and then sloping on therod 43. The sloping surfaces ofthe blocks 48 permit the blocks toreadily pass around the curved end of the rod 43 while transmittingcompressive force one to the other. The rear end of the follower rod 43is provided with a handle and latch 49. The handle 49 is made up of twosymmetrically but oppositely designed parts, which, when placedtogether, loosely fit around the end of the rod 43 with the spring 46assembled thereon. The end of the handle 49 has the same curvature asthe end of the rod 43. Within the handle 49 is positioned a cylindrivalspacer thimble 50 having a curvature approximately the same as theinside curvature of the spring as it passes around the curved endof therod 43. The parts areheld in position by an alining spacer 50a and bythe thimble 50. At the lower edge of the handle 49 there is a tooth 5|adapted to detachbracket 44.

ably interengage with a notch 52 cut in the upper surface of the rearend of the core 23. The spring 46 freely slides around the rear end ofthe rod 43 within the confines of the handle 49.

It is preferable to form the rod 43 of square stock and to pierceslightly larger square or rectangular holes in the retaining bracket 44,the bracket on the follower 45, and the blocks 48. This prevents theblocks 48 from twisting out of alinement and assures that their slopingsur faces will make proper contact as they slide around the curved end.However, it is permissible to form the rod of round stock. In suchevent, bead-like members may be substituted for the blocks 48.

The staple follower mechanism is held in place by the retaining bracket44. However, it may be moved forwardly and rearwardly of the magazinearm. When the follower rod is grasped by the handle 49 and pulledoutwardly of the magazine arm 2, the force-transmission blocks 48,normally on the upper leg of the rod 43, are forcibly moved around theinner curved end to the lower leg thereof. This action of theforcetransmission blocks positively moves the follower 45 rearwardlyalong the lower leg of the rod 43. As that rod itself is also beingmoved rearwardly, the distance moved by the follower 45 is substantiallydouble that of the distance moved by the rod 43. clear of the rear endsof the guides 33 and 34 (not shown) when the follower rod has been movedthe full limit permitted by .the engagement between its inner end andthe retaining In this position the rear end of the follower rod 43 maybe swung upwardly about the pivotal connection established between therod and the retaining bracket 44, an amount sufiicient to raise thefollower 45 out of the loading path of staples being inserted on thecore 23. When moved in this position the sleeve 41 is forced into and isclasped by the spring clamp 51. The sleeve 41 is slid to position inalinement with the clamp 51 when the rod 43 is completely retracted bythe balancing action of both parts of spring 46. In this position thereis no variable compressive force reactingon the larger portion of thisspring and substantially exact positioning of the sleeve 41 is alwaysobtained. The follower 45 and the follower rod 43 are held in thisraised position so that the operator may readily insert the staples onthe core 23.

- When staples have been inserted on the core the rear end of thefollower 43 is moved downwardly,

disengaging the connection between the sleeve 41 and the clamp 51, andthe handle 49 is moved inwardly until the tooth 5| snaps into engagementwith the notch 52. During'this action the follower 45 is prevented fromforward movement Hence, the follower 45 is moved 4 by engagement withthe rearmost of the clip staples inserted on the core 23. Thiscompresses the follower spring 43 in both its upper and lower legs andit continually urges staples forwardly along the core 23 into positionunderneath the driving blade 59. When the rod 43 is in the fullyinserted position, there is sufiicient space on the upper leg of the rod43 and the curved forward portion to accommodate all of theforce-transmission blocks 48, thereby permitting the spring 43 to urgethe follower 44 forwardly to the forward end of the core 23, therebyassuring the positioning of the last staple beneath the driving blade59.

Although there are shown and described certain specific embodiments ofthe invention, many modifications thereof are possible. The invention isnot to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the priorart and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Force-transmission means comprising a curved guiding rod, and a rigidseries of blocks slidable along said rod and adapted to communicatecompressive force from one to the other thereof, said blocks havingsloped portions to communicate the compressive force without bindingsaid blocks as they slide around said curve.

2. Force-transmission means comprising a guiding rod having a 180 degreecurve, and a rigid series of compressive force-transmission blocksslidably mounted on said rod, said blocks being pointed to permit themto move around said curve.

3. Force-transmission means comprising a rigid curved guiding rod, aseries of force-transmission blocks, each force-transmission block beingformed of fiat stock bent to provide a back and opposite sides extendingparallel for a portion of their length and then sloping toward eachother, there being alined holes in said opposite sides whereby saidblock may be slidably positioned on said guiding rod and may communicatecompressiveforce while traversing curves on said rod.

4. Force-transmission means comprising a rigid curved rod of rectangularcross section, a-

series of force-transmission blocks, each block formed of flat stockbent to provide a back and opposite parallel extending sides and atoothlike front, elongated slots formed in said opposite sides andadapted to receive'said rod, the sides of said slot engaging saidrod toprevent the block from twisting, the top and bottom of said slots beingsufficiently spaced with respect to said rod to permit the block toslide around the curve of said rod.

WILLIAM G. PANKONIN.

